Not the Hero, Not the Villain — Just the One Who Wins

Eren knelt on the scorched earth, his once-proud head bowed, fingers digging into the dirt as if clinging to the remnants of his shattered pride. Tears fell freely, carving clean streaks through the dust and blood on his face. The golden sword lay discarded beside him, its holy light dimmed—just like the fire in his eyes.

Ashen released Sasha’s hand and walked toward the broken prince. The arena held its breath as he crouched in front of Eren, close enough to see the tremors wracking his frame.

"Listen," Ashen said, his voice stripped of mockery for once. "I lied. Sasha isn’t my girlfriend."

A collective gasp rippled through the spectators—Layla’s sharp inhale, Noora’s stunned silence, Sasha’s shaky exhale. But Eren’s reaction was the most visceral. His head snapped up, eyes wide and wet with betrayal and confusion.

"You... what?"

Ashen didn’t flinch. "You’re wondering why I’d do this. What I gained." He leaned in, ensuring only Eren heard his next words. "I did it to save both of you."

Eren’s breath hitched.

"You thought you loved her," Ashen continued, "but what you felt wasn’t love. It was attraction—lust, obsession, ownership. You never tried to understand her. Never asked what she wanted. You even bet her like she was a prize to be won." His voice dropped to a whisper. "Is that how love works, Whitehound?"

Eren’s fists clenched, but no rebuttal came.